Thank you

Neuro-oncology

We are proud to offer a world-class service for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and other treatments for tumours of the brain and spinal cord, with unrivalled expertise and leading-edge technology.

A world-class service

We are proud to offer a world-class service for tumours of the brain and spinal cord and we focus on the use of proven techniques that diagnose and treat tumours, while preserving healthy brain tissue.

We are also the UK’s main independent provider of stereotactic radiosurgery, an advanced ‘brain-sparing’ radiotherapy approach for brain tumours that is recognised for its ability to preserve quality of life in people with brain metastases (cancers that have spread to the brain).

Your consultant will be supported by an expert team of specialist oncologists, therapy radiographers, neuroradiologists, medical physicists and neuro clinical nurse specialists. This multi-disciplinary team will discuss your symptoms, expected outcomes and potential side effects before recommending a unique treatment plan specifically designed for you.

Make an enquiry

While other diagnostic techniques and treatments are available at our centres throughout the UK, GenesisCare in Oxford is our neuro-oncology super-centre specialising in new and innovative techniques. This means we are able to offer these treatments to all patients in the GenesisCare network, with free transport available from anywhere in the UK if required.

Stereotactic radiosurgery

Despite its name, stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) isn’t actually surgery – it doesn’t involve any incisions and is virtually painless. It’s an advanced radiotherapy technique that precisely delivers multiple beams of radiation to a tumour in one single treatment session. It can improve treatment outcomes for small brain tumours or some non-cancerous (benign) brain conditions.

There are three main advantages of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) over conventional radiotherapy:

Single treatment

With conventional radiotherapy, you may need as many as 10 treatments. But with SRS, the radiation is far more powerful and can be delivered in in three to five doses, or even a single dose – allowing you to return home the same day. This allows you to get on with your day-to-day life without having to factor in multiple trips for treatment sessions.

Less likely to need conventional surgery

In many cases, SRS means you can avoid having conventional surgery. This means no invasive treatment, no scarring, a quicker recovery period and little risk of infection.

Reduced side effects

Increased accuracy means that the radiation beam is less likely to hit your healthy tissue – and so less likely to cause side effects – than with conventional radiotherapy. Several studies have shown that this can help to preserve everyday cognitive function and an improved quality of life after treatment in both the short and long term.

Functional MRI

We offer functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) – an advanced imaging technique that shows up the areas of your brain that are responsible for vital functions such as speaking and movement. It is often used alongside a similar MRI test called diffusion tractography, which shows the location of important brain pathways for speech, movement and other behaviours. As with a traditional MRI, fMRI is painless and non-invasive. During an fMRI scan, your doctor will ask you to perform a series of tasks, such as completing a sentence or moving your fingers. The scanner is able to detect small increases in blood flow in the regions of your brain that are activated when you perform these tasks. At the end of the scan, you will have a map of your brain showing the regions that are important for different physical and mental functions. This makes it possible to predict and limit the side effects of the benefits and treatment.

The power of visualisation

We believe that it’s important for you to be as involved as you want with your treatment plan, and the latest technology makes it easier than ever to achieve this.

We are the first private healthcare provider in the world to invest in Magic Leap mixed-reality viewers. These use augmented reality to allow you and your surgeon to visualise your brain in 3D based on information from your scans. Your consultant will use this to explain your treatment, so you can actually see what they are talking about. This will make it easier for you to understand your condition and treatment options, opening up important discussions.

MRI and PET/CT

As well as these advanced techniques, we also offer MRI and PET/CT scanning as part of our comprehensive diagnostic service. These detailed scans enable your doctor to diagnose your condition or determine whether further tests are needed, as well as plan what treatment would be best for you and monitor your condition during and after treatment.

Looking for more information?

If you are a health care professional and would like further information about our neuro-oncology treatments you can find out more here.

Meera Nandhabalan

We do more than just treat your cancer

As well as ensuring that you receive the medical treatment you need as promptly as possible, our comprehensive service also includes wellbeing therapies and exercise medicine to support you throughout your cancer journey. These are intended to help you manage your symptoms and side effects of treatment and are provided at no extra cost.

Exercise medicine

Exercise is clinically proven to help improve tolerance to treatment, muscle mass, physical function, cancer-related fatigue, quality of life and self-esteem, which is why we offer you safe and effective exercise programmes tailored to your specific needs.

Wellbeing

We’ve partnered with charity Penny Brohn UK to include personalised wellbeing therapies. The aim is to help you reduce stress, look after your emotional health and increase your energy during this challenging time. There’s a growing body of research to show that this approach, which includes mindfulness, meditation, counselling, reflexology and acupuncture, is beneficial for people who have been through life-changing experiences such as cancer diagnosis.